11. Super Metroid (1994)

Super Metroid has this incredible way of setting such an eerie mood, despite not making a big show of it. The soundtrack is very immersive, making you feel as though you’re alone with only monsters around you. What surprised me in the title theme is that you can actually hear Samus breathing through her suit, and in ‘Crateria – Zebes Planetfall’, the sound effects of rain and thunder are impressive when you consider that it was made on an SNES sound chip.

To get the full effect of this soundtrack, I highly recommend that you listen to it with headphones on. With the sounds washing from one ear to the next and back, which is an art in itself, the soundtrack is much more dynamic. Because of this, the OST is incredibly captivating, making you want more and more of this absolute masterpiece. I’d like to personally thank Kenji Yamamoto and Minako Hamano for sharing their brilliance with the world. Also, your work on later games isn’t too bad, either.

Favourite Tracks:
1. Norfair (Ridley’s Lair)
2. Norfair (The Fires Of Zebes)
3. Title Theme
4. Brinstar (The Jungle Floor)
5. Kraid/Crocomire/Phantoon Boss Theme

12. Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II (1990)

Created by Atlus, Megami Tensei II is a predecessor to the popular Shin Megami Tensei series, so it’s almost guaranteed that the music’s awesome. I’d like to preface this entry by confirming that I have not played through this game, but I have heard tracks from the SMT series.

Though the tracks tend to be repetitive, it’s not a detrimental factor. In fact, I’d argue it’s quite the opposite. This soundtrack makes it very easy for me to just sit, not think, and relax for a while. And if you know me, that’s quite a task. As I’m re-listening, I’m finding it difficult to pick only five tracks to add to my favourites list, however, this must be done. 😐

Despite the difficulty of choosing only five tracks, there were a couple that didn’t gel with me. Of course, this isn’t the fault of the composer or song quality; it is purely a matter of personal taste. Regardless, because the soundtrack is so good, it really makes me want to play through the Megami Tensei games. Even though I know nothing of the gameplay, I will be looking into acquiring and trying out these games for myself. Let me know if that’s something you’d like to see streamed on our Twitch channel. 🤫

Favourite Tracks:
1. Explorer
2. Daedalus
3. Fallen Gods
4. Prayer
5. Omen

13. Solstice (1990)

Solstice has a limited number of tracks, but if they are anything, they are absolute bangers. Of course, this just proves that you don’t need the longest OST to produce absolute quality. The title screen theme’s music switches up so often that it feels like you’re listening to five songs at once, but not in a bad way.

Because the game is so simple in style, the limited number of tracks fits well within the setting. That is to say, the repetitiveness of the main BGM theme gels well with the puzzle style of the game; as a result, the player can concentrate on working out the puzzles. However, I’m not sure how mind-numbing the music can become after 40 minutes on repeat. I’ll have to test it out and let you know.

After about 10 minutes of listening to the main BGM music, I can confirm that I am just vibing along to the tunes more than ever. It is also helping me write more on this list. In conclusion, this is the perfect OST for doing the mundane things in your life. Immediately put this in the background of your work day.

Favourite Tracks:
1. Title Screen Theme
2. Introduction
3. Credit / Continue Screen
4. Main BGM Theme
5. Ending

14. Gimmick! (1992)

Gimmick looks like a knock-off Bub from Bubble Bobble, who, by the way, appears in my list of cute gaming mascots. Regardless, while I was trying to remember my favourite ’90s gaming tracks, I came across Gimmick!, which I never even heard of. Regardless, I took a listen. Oh. My. Good Great Aunt Jolly Janice. Did I miss out on one hell of a soundtrack?

This game cartridge had an additional sound chip, meaning we got some sickly bass (in an NES game!) and additional instruments. There were 8 sound channels for the composer to work with and it shows in the quality of the OST. Not too long ago, the game’s OST was released on vinyl, so if you really enjoy the tracks, you can nab a physical copy. If you too have never played this game, please look up the soundtrack. If you have already heard this OST, say thank you to Mr. Kageyama.

Thank you, Mr. Kageyama.

Unfortunately, even though this soundtrack was absolutely phenomenal, Masashi Kageyama took a step back from video game music composition. However, he did remain committed to the Tokyo Jazz scene.

Favourite Tracks:
1. Aporia (Boss Theme 1)
2. Good Morning (Introduction)
3. Happy Birthday (Stage 1)
4. Slow Illusion (Stage 3, part 1)
5. Lion Heart (Stage 5)

15. Mega Man 3 (1990)

The creators of Mega Man seem to know that a good soundtrack is one of the keys to creating a classic, and Mega Man 3 is no exception. Initially, I wanted to add Mega Man 2 to my list, but that was released in ’88. Eventually, I’ll make an ’80s list. Anyway, in the meantime, I re-listened to Mega Man 3‘s OST, and it did not disappoint.

The tracks are full of grit, which allows you to imagine what it would be like to be a Rocket Guy in space, blasting his way through enemies. Since the instrumentals of this game are full of personality, you can truly feel the different characters’ identities through their themes. without even getting started on Dr. Wily’s Castle music. Dr. Wily’s Castle is a whole vibe, with such a strong sense of atmosphere being displayed through the soundtrack, specifically ‘Dr.Wily’s Castle 1’. Because of this, it’s no wonder Mega Man has continued to have over 130 titles in its roster.

Favourite Tracks:
1. Epilogue (Ending Theme)
2. Dr. Wily’s Castle 1
3. Shadow Man
4. Weapon Upgrade (Get Weapon)
5. Password/Game Over

Honourable Mentions

Even though this is by no means a definitive list, I would like to add some honourable mentions here. If you don’t see your favourite, not to worry! I might not have heard of it before, or it might not be my personal taste in music.

Without further ado, time for the ones that didn’t quite make the cut.

The Addams Family (1992, SEGA Mega Drive), Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (1990, SEGA Mega Drive), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992, SEGA Mega Drive), Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge (1991, Game Boy), Pokémon Red/Blue (1996, Game Boy).

In conclusion, the ’90s had an amazing roster of video game music. While we’re still eating well in 2025, there’s something endearing about 16-bit music that soundtracks of today just can’t compare to. Maybe it’s the strong sense of nostalgia, perhaps it’s the artistry of making some amazing tunes on such a limited sound chip… Whatever it is, the composers were good at their jobs, thus allowing us to have some of the best background music we could ever ask for.

If you would like to discuss this list more, please consider joining our Discord channel or commenting your thoughts down below. However, if you would like to see some of UnderLevelled’s favourite video game soundtracks that aren’t bleep bloop games, check out our ‘15 Of The Best Video Game Soundtracks‘ article.

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